Nickeil Alexander-Walker (/nɪˈkiːl/ nih-KEEL;[1] born September 2, 1998) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies. A shooting guard, he was drafted 17th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 NBA draft but was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.
 Alexander-Walker with Canada in 2023 | |
| No. 9 – Minnesota Timberwolves | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 2, 1998 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | Virginia Tech (2017–2019) |
| NBA draft | 2019: 1st round, 17th overall pick |
| Selected by the Brooklyn Nets | |
| Playing career | 2019–present |
| Career history | |
| 2019–2022 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2020 | →Erie BayHawks |
| 2022–2023 | Utah Jazz |
| 2023–present | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Medals | |
High school career
editA native of Toronto, Alexander-Walker played for Vaughan Secondary School, St. Louis Christian Academy, and Hamilton Heights Christian Academy.[2] At Hamilton Heights, he was a teammate of his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The two have a close relationship and shared a room at coach Zach Ferrell's house.[3] He was ranked the No. 74 prospect in the class of 2017 according to Scout.com.[2]
College career
editAlexander-Walker committed to Virginia Tech in May 2016, over offers from USC and Maryland. As a freshman for the Hokies, Alexander-Walker averaged 10.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.[4] In his second game in college, he scored a season-high 29 points in a 132–93 win over The Citadel.[5] He helped lead Virginia Tech to a 21–12 record and NCAA Tournament appearance. In the first round loss to Alabama, Alexander-Walker scored 15 points.[6]
As a sophomore, Alexander-Walker averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game during the regular season. He helped lead Virginia Tech to a 24–8 season, with a 12–6 record in the ACC and a 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet 16.[7]
Professional career
editNew Orleans Pelicans (2019–2022)
editOn June 20, 2019, Alexander-Walker was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 NBA draft.
On July 6, 2019, his draft rights were traded to the Atlanta Hawks, alongside Allen Crabbe and draft considerations, for future teammate Taurean Prince[8] and then immediately traded again to the New Orleans Pelicans.[9] The next day, the Pelicans announced that they had signed Alexander-Walker.[10] On October 22, 2019, Alexander-Walker made his NBA debut, coming off the bench in a 130–122 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. He finished the game with three points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.[11]
On November 16, 2019, Alexander-Walker scored a career-high 27 points, while getting four rebounds and three assists in a 109–94 loss against the Miami Heat.[12]
On February 26, 2020, the Pelicans assigned Alexander-Walker to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League.[13] On February 27, 2020, Alexander-Walker had 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in his first G League game, a 125–124 win over the Long Island Nets.[14]
On January 13, 2021, he started for the Pelicans and scored a career-high 37 points against the Los Angeles Clippers.[15]
Utah Jazz (2022–2023)
editOn February 8, 2022, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, Tomáš Satoranský, Didi Louzada, a protected 2022 first-round draft pick, the better of New Orleans' and Portland's 2026 second-round draft picks and New Orleans' 2027 second-round draft pick from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell.[16] A day later, Alexander-Walker was traded again, this time to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade.[17]
Minnesota Timberwolves (2023–present)
editOn February 9, 2023, Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley Jr. were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, which sent Damian Jones, Russell Westbrook and Juan Toscano-Anderson to Utah and Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and D'Angelo Russell to Los Angeles.[18] He was re-signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 10, 2023.[19]
National team career
editAlexander-Walker competed for Canada at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, leading the team to the silver medal. He led all scorers in the tournament with 17.4 points per game. He also competed for the Canadian senior national team in the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[2]
On May 24, 2022, Alexander-Walker agreed to a three-year commitment to play with the Canadian senior men's national team.[20] He was named to Canada's roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[21]
Career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
editRegular season
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | New Orleans | 47 | 1 | 12.6 | .368 | .346 | .676 | 1.8 | 1.9 | .4 | .2 | 5.7 |
| 2020–21 | New Orleans | 46 | 13 | 21.9 | .419 | .347 | .727 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .5 | 11.0 |
| 2021–22 | New Orleans | 50 | 19 | 26.3 | .375 | .311 | .722 | 3.3 | 2.8 | .8 | .4 | 12.8 |
| Utah | 15 | 2 | 9.9 | .333 | .303 | .917 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | .3 | 3.5 | |
| 2022–23 | Utah | 36 | 3 | 14.7 | .488 | .402 | .692 | 1.6 | 2.1 | .7 | .4 | 6.3 |
| Minnesota | 23 | 0 | 15.5 | .384 | .361 | .619 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .3 | .3 | 5.9 | |
| 2023–24 | Minnesota | 82 | 20 | 23.4 | .439 | .391 | .800 | 2.0 | 2.5 | .8 | .5 | 8.0 |
| Career | 299 | 58 | 19.6 | .407 | .354 | .730 | 2.3 | 2.2 | .7 | .4 | 8.3 | |
Play-in
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Minnesota | 2 | 1 | 30.3 | .600 | .375 | 1.000 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 11.5 |
| Career | 2 | 1 | 30.3 | .600 | .375 | 1.000 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 11.5 | |
Playoffs
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Utah | 1 | 0 | 4.7 | 1.000 | — | 1.000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 5.0 |
| 2023 | Minnesota | 5 | 4 | 29.6 | .429 | .400 | .667 | 2.0 | 1.4 | .6 | .2 | 8.4 |
| 2024 | Minnesota | 16 | 1 | 23.6 | .366 | .296 | 1.000 | 1.8 | 2.3 | .6 | .4 | 7.3 |
| Career | 22 | 5 | 24.1 | .389 | .321 | .929 | 1.8 | 2.0 | .6 | .4 | 7.4 | |
College
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Virginia Tech | 33 | 33 | 25.4 | .449 | .392 | .730 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .8 | .5 | 10.7 |
| 2018–19 | Virginia Tech | 34 | 34 | 34.3 | .474 | .374 | .778 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 1.9 | .5 | 16.2 |
| Career | 67 | 67 | 29.9 | .464 | .383 | .763 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 1.4 | .5 | 13.5 | |
Personal life
editHis cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, also plays in the NBA, currently for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nickeil's mother Nicole is the sister of Shai's father Vaughn.[22] Nickeil's cousin, Thomasi (Shai's younger brother), was a college basketball player for the Evansville Purple Aces and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.[23]
Alexander-Walker is the nephew of sprinter Charmaine Gilgeous.
Both Nicole and Charmaine attended Blessed Mother Teresa High School located in the community of Malvern which is located in Scarborough. Alexander also attended Crestview Public School in Toronto, Ontario during his early life.
References
edit- ^ "2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide" (Press release). National Basketball Association. October 24, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Chris (November 21, 2017). "The Sleeper Emerging as One of the 2018 NBA Draft's Best Guards". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 13, 2017). "Competitive cousins shared a room in high school. UK-Virginia Tech game pits them against each other". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Watkins, Evan (June 23, 2018). "Nickeil Alexander-Walker named a Top 15 2019 NBA Draft prospect". 247 Sports. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ "Alexander-Walker carries Virginia Tech past The Citadel". ESPN. Associated Press. November 12, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ "Alabama edges Virginia Tech, 86–83". Reuters. March 16, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ "Duke 75-73 Virginia Tech (Mar 29, 2019) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Atlanta Hawks Acquire Allen Crabbe And Conditional 2020 First-Round Pick From Brooklyn Nets". National Basketball Association. July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Atlanta Hawks Acquire Draft Rights To De'Andre Hunter, Solomon Hill And Conditional 2023 Second-Round Pick From New Orleans". National Basketball Association. July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Pelicans sign Hayes and Alexander-Walker". National Basketball Association. July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "VanVleet scores career-high 34, Raptors top Pelicans 130–122". ESPN. October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ "Pelicans' Nickeil Alexander-Walker: Pops for career-high 27 points". CBS Sports. November 17, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Pelicans assign rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the G League". USA Today. February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- ^ "Nickeil Alexander-Walker goes for 23 points in first G League game". USA Today. February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- ^ "Nickeil Alexander-Walker shines with 37-point night, Pelicans fall to Clippers". Fox Sports. January 13, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ "TRAIL BLAZERS COMPLETE TRADE WITH NEW ORLEANS" (Press release). Portland Trail Blazers. February 8, 2022.
- ^ "Jazz Acquire Alexander-Walker and Hernangomez". National Basketball Association. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Guards Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Utah Jazz". National Basketball Association. February 9, 2023.
- ^ "Timberwolves Re-Sign Nickeil Alexander-Walker". National Basketball Association. July 10, 2023.
- ^ "FOURTEEN ATHLETES COMMITTED TO REPRESENT CANADA AS SENIOR MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM SUMMER CORE REVEALED". Canada Basketball. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ "Gilgeous-Alexander, Murray to lead NBA-experienced Canadian Olympic team in Paris". CBC / The Canadian Press. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "Bonus Timberwolves plug-in drama: A battle of cousins at _target Center". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander – Men's Basketball". Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Athletics. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
External links
edit
- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
- Virginia Tech Hokies bio
- USBasket profile